Putin’s latest call for “predictable, constructive, mutually
beneficial cooperation” with Washington will prove no more
successful than earlier attempts to improve relations.

Nor will urging “strict adherence to the principles of equality,
respect for national interests and noninterference in (Russia’s)
internal affairs” budge Washington to turn a new leaf.

Its new ambassador to Russia won’t improve things. On Tuesday, Putin
received his credentials. Former Utah governor/US ambassador to
China Jon Huntsman is a committed Russophobe.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, he lied, saying “(t)here is
no question - underline no question - that the Russian government
interfered in the US election last year, and Moscow continues to
meddle in the democratic processes of our friends and allies.”

He brings that baggage with him to Moscow, arriving as an adversary,
for sure no ambassador of good will.

The Huntsman Corporation chairman’s public career dates from the
Reagan Administration as a White House staff assistant ­ later
appointed Deputy Assistant Commerce Secretary and US ambassador to
Singapore by GHW Bush, Deputy Trade Representative for GW Bush, and
ambassador to China for Obama.

He served as Utah governor from January 2005 ­ August 2009 before
joining the Obama administration. In 2012, his presidential campaign
was short-lived, announced in mid-2011, ended after finishing third
in the New Hampshire primary.

He calls himself a center-right conservative. Others consider him
hardline. His Atlantic Council chairmanship raises concerns, a
hawkish Russophobic think tank.

Kremlin hopes for improved bilateral ties with him as US ambassador
reflect wishful thinking going nowhere.

Russia has a blind spot thinking normalized relations with
Washington are possible - not for the past 100 years with few
interregnum softening periods.

Maybe they’ll continue the same way for another century, unless
nuclear war settles things, destroying both countries and humanity
with them.